HB 1589 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in books, furniture and supplies, providing for school library collections.

PRINTER'S NO.      1899

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1589
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY SCOTT, HARKINS, WEBSTER, GIRAL, PIELLI, HILL-
        EVANS, WAXMAN, PARKER, MERSKI, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, GUENST,
        PROBST, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN, HOWARD, OTTEN, MAYES, RIVERA AND
        MALAGARI, JUNE 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 11, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in books, furniture and supplies,
 6      providing for school library collections.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11   section to read:
12      Section 811.    School Library Collections.--(a)    Beginning
13   with the 2026-2027 school year, each public school shall
14   maintain a library collection that includes a variety of print,
15   nonprint and electronic resources with required technology and
16   related equipment of sufficient quality and quantity to support
17   and supplement the educational needs of students, including a
18   minimum print collection of five thousand (5,000) items per
19   school or no less than ten (10) books per student plus access to
 1   State-funded e-resources, including the POWER library.
 2      (b)   A certified school librarian shall:
 3      (1)   Direct the development and implementation of a library
 4   of a public school according to the department's guidelines for
 5   school library programs.
 6      (2)   Instruct students and staff in the use of the library
 7   collection and the library curriculum standards adopted by the
 8   department.
 9      (3)   Assess the library and the library's instructional
10   programs to meet the needs of the students and the school's
11   curriculum.
12      (c)   The department shall promulgate regulations as necessary
13   to implement this section.
14      (d)   As used in this section, the following words and phrases
15   shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
16   the context clearly indicates otherwise:
17      "Certified school librarian."        An individual who is a
18   certified teacher and has:
19      (1)   completed a school library certification at an
20   institution of higher education; or
21      (2)   achieved a minimum score required on the Praxis II
22   School Librarian test to be employed as a school librarian in
23   this Commonwealth.
24      "Department."     The Department of Education of the
25   Commonwealth.
26      "Library."   A central space within a school building that is
27   staffed by a certified school librarian and accessible to all
28   students and staff throughout the school day that has
29   appropriate furnishing to house and circulate the library
30   collection and provides space for student learning and

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 1   instruction.
 2      "Library collection."    Collections of information in formats
 3   that include books, periodicals, audio and visually enhanced
 4   materials, computer and digital resources and applications and
 5   shared information resources through networks or the Internet.
 6   The term does not include books classified as textbooks, except
 7   when used in limited numbers as reference books or books housed
 8   in classrooms.
 9      "Public school."    A school operated by a school district,
10   intermediate unit or charter school.
11      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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